Voting system

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a voting system. In particular, this invention relates to a ballot paper which includes an option section and response section, whereby the response section is adapted to be separable from the option section. The option section preferably contains at least two options, the options being generated and/or presented in random order, and the response section preferably includes at least one selection portion for each option presented on the option section. The response section preferably includes a unique identifier which may be utilized to identify each voter, and the response section may preferably include reading means adjacent each selection portion. Preferably a key such as a dongle may be required to produce the ballot paper and be required to count the votes and/or collate the results. A method of conduct a ballot utilizing such a ballot paper is also described.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to voting systems.

However, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be limitedas such, and the prior art and possible applications of the invention asdiscussed below are therefore given by way of example only.

BACKGROUND ART

Most countries are democracies, and as such are governed by theirelected representatives. An important component of a democracy is thesystem by which representatives are elected.

For example, elections are usually held to elect representatives toGovernment or Parliament, and also to local government such as citycouncils. Another instance where a voting system is commonly used is indetermining the will of the people with respect to various issues via areferendum.

A voting system or election is governed by two important precepts. Thefirst is that it be an open and transparent process. The second is thatthe secrecy of the electors' vote is maintained. It is highly desirablethat results are not available until the poll has closed. To ensure thesecrecy of the results during a ballot it is illegal, in such countries,for example New Zealand, to commence processing of votes until theballot has closed.

Elections or referenda are usually conducted by postal ballot or via aballot box. In either method voters are provided with a ballot paper.Each voter's ballot paper is identical and identifies the issue(s) underconsideration, and a number of options for the issue(s). If the optionsare candidates'names, these are usually listed in alphabetical order, orsome other pre-determined, but fixed, sequence. Voters mark theirpreference on the ballot paper and return the ballot paper to the ballotorganiser, either by mailing it, or placing it in a ballot-box.

When a postal ballot paper is received it is usually validated. Theprocess of validation ensures that no voter casts more votes than he orshe is entitled to. Usually a voter is allowed a single vote and isrecorded as having cast that vote when their ballot paper is returned.If more than one ballot paper for a voter is returned, that voter'sballot papers are usually put aside and/or declassed invalid.

Usually, only when a ballot ends can the ballot papers be processed andthe results of the ballot discovered. Often the results of a ballot arerequired the same day the ballot closes. It is an enormous undertakingto train and co-ordinate the number of people required to count andrecord the results of the ballot in the time available after the ballothas ended. It is also expensive. The effort and expense increase as thesize and/or complexity of the ballot increases.

Efforts are being made in several countries to change the law so thatvotes can be processed as they are received. However the secrecy of theresults before the ballot closes must usually still be maintained.

A problem with most current ballot papers is that the choice made by thevoter is apparent on the face of the ballot paper, and the voter, insome instances, may be identified either by his or her name, or by anidentification number.

When the identification number is used to validate the vote, the voter'sidentity is known. The sighting of the electors' choices, for example,may increase the risk that some indication of preliminary results mayleak to the public.

Furthermore, the custom of placing options, and in particular candidatenames in, say, alphabetical order can favour those candidates whose nameappears early in the alphabetical sequence.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoingproblems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of exampleonly.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided aballot including an option section and a response section whereby theresponse section is adapted to be separable from the option section.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aballot paper substantially as described above wherein the responsesection is separable from the option section by a perforated join.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aballot paper substantially as described above wherein the option sectioncontains at least two options, said options being generated and/orpresented in random order.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aballot paper substantially as described above wherein the responsesection includes at least one selection portion for each optionpresented on the option section, to enable a voter to choose or nominatean option(s) or preference(s) or sequential order.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aballot paper substantially as described above wherein the responsesection includes a unique identifier.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aballot paper substantially as described above wherein the uniqueidentifier is in the form of a barcode.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aballot paper substantially as described above wherein each selectionportion on the response section is provided with a reading means.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aballot paper substantially as described above wherein the reading meansis a barcode

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of conducting a ballot utilising a ballot paper substantiallyas described above, the method comprising the steps of:

a) printing the options onto the option section in random order;

b) presenting the ballot paper to a voter,

c) instructing the voter to indicate a preference(s) on the selectionportion(s) of the response section,

d) instructing the voter to separate the response section from theoption section, and return the response section to the ballot organiser;

e) using the unique identifier to identify the voter and recording thata vote has been cast by that voter;

f) recording the preference(s) of the voter;

g) collating the results

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of limiting access to the results of a ballot, utilising aballot paper substantially as described above, the method comprising thesteps of:

a) requiring a key to produce the ballot paper;

b) requiring a key to collate the results.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of limiting access to the results of a ballot, substantially asdescribed above wherein the key is a dongle.

The ballot paper may be any suitable means of conducting a ballot and/orrecording a vote, or preference.

In preferred embodiments the ballot paper may be made of paper or card.

In other embodiments the ballot paper may be presented electronically,for example on a visual display unit.

The option section on the ballot paper may present a number of options.In some embodiments the options may be a list of candidates in anelectorate. In another embodiment there may simply be two options, ayes/no or true/false.

In preferred embodiments the options may be presented in a list.

The response section of the ballot paper may include at least oneselection portion to enable a voter to choose or nominate an or eachoption(s) as desired. Preferably, there may only be one selectionportion for each option.

In preferred embodiments the selection portion may be a space capable ofbeing marked by pencil or by ink.

In an electronic embodiment the selection portion may be marked byentering data electronically on the selection portion by the keyboard,by clicking a mouse, or by other pointing device or by touch sensitivescreens.

It is envisaged that a voter may choose or nominate an option by makingan appropriate mark (for example a tick or an “X”) in the appropriateselection portion. In some ballots the voter may wish to indicate asequential order of preference, that is by rating the options from mostfavored to least favored.

There may be provided two or more selection portions for each option ina ballot where, for example, there are more than one issues to bedetermined in respect of each option available.

The response section may preferably be adapted to be separable from theoption section (and/or ballot paper).

In a preferred embodiment the response section and the option sectionmay share a perforated joint for ease of separation.

In another embodiment the response section may be adapted to beseparable from the option section by the use of scissors or some otherkind of blade.

In some electronic embodiments the response section and option sectionmay be separated automatically and electronically on indication by theuser that they wish to cast their vote.

The option section may contain at least two options generated and/orpresented in random order. For example the options may include thecandidates' names Adam, Eve and Ham. One random order may be Adam, Eve,Ham, another may be Adam, Ham Eve, and another, Eve, Adam, Ham and soon. Hence, in the example given where there are three candidates theymay be presented in six possible orders, that is not necessarilyalphabetically.

In a preferred embodiment the order of presentation of the options maybe applied randomly to each ballot paper.

The response section may preferably include a unique identifier.

The unique identifier may serve to identify the voter. In someembodiments the unique identifier may be a sequence of numbers.

In other embodiments the unique identifier may be a sequence of letters,and/or numbers.

In a preferred embodiment the unique identifier may be a bar code orother machine readable code.

In some embodiments the unique identifier may be generated randomly orautomatically.

For example, the unique identifier may be generated from a combinationof the voter's position in the electoral roll; and/or the time and dateof issuing the ballot paper; and/or an independently generated number orexternal value.

Each selection portion may preferably be provided with a reading means.Preferably, each reading means may be particular or unique to only oneselection portion.

The reading means may indicate the position of the selection portion(s)marked by the voter.

For example if the candidate options, in order of presentation, wereHam, Adam and Eve and the voter wished to select Eve, the voter may markthe selection portion corresponding to the position in which Eveappears, namely position No. 3. In preferential voting the voter maymark a series of selection portions in order of preference. Insequential (or transferable) voting the voter may select a first andsecond choice. If the first choice does not receive the majority ofvotes then the second choice may be counted.

The reading means may be a number, or a letter, or a combination ofboth.

In a preferred embodiment the reading means may be a barcode or othermachine readable code.

The ballot organiser may include means by which the voter returns theresponse section, usually via the postal system, the ballot box or byelectronic mail.

A key may be required to generate a ballot paper, and to count votes.

The key may be a hardware device used to validate and/or provide anexternally generated value for a computer process. For example, the keymay be a dongle.

The key, such as a dongle, may be attached to the external port of acomputer before ballot papers can be produced. The key may contribute anexternal value to the generation of a unique identification number whichappears on each ballot paper (particularly appropriate in postalballots). If a ballot paper is lost or damaged a voter may require areplacement ballot paper. The unique identifier generated for thereplacement ballot paper will be different from the original uniqueidentifier because it will be generated at a different time. Theoriginal unique identifier will be invalidated. When the ballot hasclosed the key may again be attached to the external port of thecomputer so that the voter may be identified, and the position ofcandidates on that voter's ballot paper identified.

In some embodiments the key may be or require password access to thecomputer system.

It can be seen this invention provides a number of advantages over thepresent art.

For example, each vote is confidential. Only the response section of theballot paper is returned to the ballot organiser. The voter's choice isnot apparent because the option section has been removed and hence it isimpossible to tell which option corresponds to the choice the voter hasmarked. This is because the options for each ballot paper are preferablygenerated and/or presented in a random order.

Furthermore the vote can be validated without the identity of the voterbeing apparent. The validity of the vote may be determined by thevalidity of the unique identifier. If the unique identifier is valid,the vote is valid. If the unique identifier is invalid, the vote also isinvalid.

It is possible to begin processing ballot papers as they are receivedwithout determining the progress of the result. The information can becollected, but the key, or dongle, is required before the informationcan be processed and the results made available.

Accordingly, the present invention allows ballot papers to be processedas they are received while preserving the secrecy of the results beforethe ballot closes. It is only once the ballot closes that the dongle maybe attached to the system and the results determined. This reduces theeffort and expense in only being able to process the results of a voteafter the ballot has closed.

Moreover, it may assist in changing law in countries which currentlyforbid processing of ballot papers until the ballot closes.

Furthermore the present invention negates the favourable position thatcandidates enjoy if they appear early in an option sequence. All optionsare presented randomly. Hence voters who tend to select options early inthe sequence will not be skewing the results.

It is to be understood and appreciated that the ballot paper, being thesubject of the present invention, may include an electronic ballotpaper. That is, a ballot paper which is transmitted to a voterelectronically, for example via the internet or e-mail system. In suchan embodiment, the voter may indicate his/her preference(s) on theresponse section as described previously, and return sameelectronically. The option section may be retained and not retransmittedelectronically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description which is given by way of example only and withreference to the accompanying drawing which is a view of a ballot paperbeing one possible embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a ballot paper 1including an option section 2 and a response section 3. The ballot paper1 is made from paper. The response section 3 may be separated from theoption section 2 and/or ballot paper 1 along the perforation 4. Theoption section 2 includes a list of options 5 presented in random order.The response section 3 includes a selection portion 6 for each option 5presented on the option section 2 to allow a voter to choose or nominatean option.

In use, a voter may receive the ballot paper 1, select the option 5 theywish to choose so marking the appropriate selection portion 6, separatethe response section 3 from the option section 2 via the perforation 4and return the response section 3 to the ballot organiser.

The response section 3 has a unique identifier 7 which identifies theballot paper, and the voter to whom the ballot paper was issued. Theunique identifier is a multi-digit number that is presented as a barcode which includes Arabic numerals. The unique identifier 7 isgenerated from the voter's position on the electoral roll, the date andtime the ballot paper was issued, and an external value contributed by adongle (not shown).

For example, in the drawing, the options 5 include Ham, Eve, Shem, andAdam. The voter has marked Eve, the candidate appearing in position 2.The voter returns only the response section 3 to the ballot organizer.The voter's choice is not apparent from the response section 3. Only theposition of the option 5 selected by the voter is apparent.

The unique identifier can identify the order of candidates on the ballotpaper but the dongle must be present to contribute the external value.

The response section 3 has a reading means 8 capable of identifying theposition of the marked selection portion 6. As soon as the responsesection 3 is received by the ballot organiser from the voter, the uniqueidentifier 7 and the reading means 8 of the marked selection portion 6can be recorded. The unique identifier and/or reading means can be keyedin, or the bar code “swiped” in. Machine readable code technology suchas barcodes are well known and do not need to be described herein in anyfurther detail.

The dongle is not present and therefore the reading of the uniqueidentifier and/or reading means does not identify either the voter, theorder of the options 5 on the ballot paper, or the selection made by thevoter.

When the ballot closes the dongle is attached to the system. The dongleprovides the external identifier required to decode the uniqueidentifier and determine the voter, and the order of options 5 on theballot paper. The selection portion marked by the voter will correlateto an option 5. For example position 2 correlates to candidate Eve. Thevotes can then be counted.

It therefore follows that it is possible to being processing ballotpapers as they are received without determining the progress of theresult. That is, the information from reading the unique identifierand/or reading means can be collected, but the dongle is required beforethe collected (and/or stored) information can be “decoded” and/orprocessed and the results made available. However, the use of the dongleand/or computer related technology enables the information collected tobe decoded and/or processed very rapidly, and hence the result of theballot may be readily known in a substantially short period of time.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of exampleonly and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions maybe made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined inthe appended claims.

The claims defining the invention are:
 1. A ballot paper, comprising: anoption section containing at least two options, said options beinggenerated and/or presented in random order; and a response sectionseparable from the option section, the response section including atleast one selection portion for each option presented on the optionsection, to enable a voter to nominate at least one option or preferenceor sequential order of options.
 2. A ballot paper as claimed in claim 1,wherein the response section is separable from the option section by aperforated joint.
 3. A ballot paper as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachat least one selection portion is provided with a reading means.
 4. Aballot paper as claimed in claim 3 wherein the reading means is amachine readable barcode.
 5. A ballot paper, comprising: an optionsection containing at least two options, said options being generatedand/or presented in random order; a response section separable from theoption section, the response section including at least one selectionportion for each option presented on the option section, to enable avoter to nominate at least one option or preference or sequential orderof options; and the response section including an unique identifier forcounting votes and/or collating results.
 6. A ballot paper as claimed inclaim 5 wherein the unique identifier is a machine readable barcode. 7.A ballot paper as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the uniqueidentifier is generated from a voter's position on an electoral roll,the date and time the ballot paper was issued, and an external valuecontributed by a key.
 8. A ballot paper as claimed in claim 7 whereinthe key is a dongle.
 9. A method of conducting a ballot utilizing aballot paper which includes an option section and a response section,the method comprising the steps of: a) printing the options onto theoption section in random order; b) presenting the ballot paper to avoter; c) instructing the voter to indicate one or more preference on aselection portion included on the response section; d) instructing thevoter to separate the response section from the option section, andreturn the response section to the ballot organizer; e) using a uniqueidentifier to identify the voter and record that a vote has been cast bythat voter; f) recording the preference(s) of the voter; and g)collating the results.
 10. A method of conducting a ballot utilizing aballot paper which includes an option section and a response section,the method comprising the steps of: a) printing the options onto theoption section in random order, wherein a key is required to produce theballot paper; b) presenting the ballot paper to a voter; c) instructingthe voter to indicate one or more preferences on a selection portionincluded on the response section; d) instructing the voter to separatethe response section from the option section, and return the responsesection to the ballot organizer; e) using a unique identifier toidentify the voter and record that a vote has been cast by that voter;f) recording the preference(s) of the voter; and g) using a key which isused in producing the ballot paper to count the votes and/or collate theresults.
 11. a method of conducting a ballot as claimed in claim 10wherein the key is a dongle.